The baking soda is important to keep to keep the pH of the water basic.

I noticed that when I was boiling my cushions, that there was a layer of soapy bubbles on the surface of the water. Those bubbles are either the result of residual detergent (baby shampoo) being washed off the cushion or from the oils in the cushion being turned into soap by the sodium bicarbonate. I believe it is a combination of both factors.

Either way, the cushions come out nearly clear again and are bettee than new in my opinion. New cushions are hard and less flexible than used cushions. Boiling seems to make them sticky clean again without restoring the hardness. And as previously mentioned, I do not believe that bioling silicone will have any detrimental effects on it. YMMV!

chunkyfrog wrote:I wonder what boiling would do for my Respironics full face Comfort gel cushions.I'm ready to do a 'shield' or two, but the gel gets sorrier sooner--and I'm not sure. . .

If I am not mistaken, the original "gel" type masks were intended to be put in boiling water, cooled some, & then put on your face to conform to the contour of your particular face. It is only later that they made them where they did not have to be boiled & shaped. But at a local Awake meeting, a ResMed rep who was there said that if one had problems with the "gel" masks leaking, they could be boiled to conform to the contour of the face.

Normally I wash my masks in a 50/50 of White vinegar and water and let them soak for 10 - 30 minutes, wipe off, rinse well and let dry. They always worked like new after a wash. They do get milky as they age though. I have 3 masks sitting around up to a year old I'll have to try both methods and see how things turn out.

When you said you wash in 50/50 vinegar/water, and then soak for 15-30 minutes, are you soaking the parts in the vinegar/water mix, or soaking them in water or something else? And do you wash the parts in some sort of cleanser first?

When you said you wash in 50/50 vinegar/water, and then soak for 15-30 minutes, are you soaking the parts in the vinegar/water mix, or soaking them in water or something else? And do you wash the parts in some sort of cleanser first?

thank you

My method:I take a throw away container put in all the silicon pieces.I then add hot water and then add about the same amount of white vinegar, and rub the parts a little to get the cleaning going.I then put on a cover and soak it 10 to 30 minutes depending on how bad the mask is. Normally for me it starts feeling squeaky at about 15.I give them hand washing in the vinegar/water mix making sure there are no greasy spots.I then take the parts out and give them a really good rinse, again going over the silicon to get any greasy feeling spots off, normally there aren't any at this point.I then lay the parts out on a clean white baking towel or paper towel if my good baking towels are dirty and let them air dry.

The plastic molded parts I clean with Dawn and good them a good once over and rinse.Then lay those out to dry. When all parts are dry I reassemble the mask.

The mask comes out very clean and works just like new. With little to no smell.

Small tip for anyone who gets a scaley build up on the heating plate of some of the older style heated humidifiers. Soak the scaled up heating plate in pure white vinegar for 10 and come back and wipe the scale off. If not completely clean soak for another 10 minutes and wipe the next layer off. By the time your done the heating plate will be pristine. Rinse it well let dry and your good to go. Works for home humidifiers too.

I used your procedure on my quattro fx cushion. The boiled cushion give me 0 leaks. I have been using it for about 2 1/2 months. It's time to do my extra mask cushion. It's been used for about 4 months and is starting to show a slight leak at various time during the night.

ive been using the same quattro mask and cushion for 3 years now and only lately am i seeing some leakage. the seal isnt torn or anything, i think the headgear could be tightened a little.ive boiled the cushion twice in those 3 years and used a little baking soda with the water. works great!i was hoping to buy a new quattro this week, but had some car issues happen suddenly that required repair and so wont be getting a new mask. but i will boil the cushion again.